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Choosing A Levels - a different perspective please
Comments
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Just an update as we have been to his interview.
If he decides to go to this college he has decided to go for Maths,Chemistry,Spanish & Further Maths (must get an A in GCSE Maths) with Computing as a back up should he not get an A in Maths.
He would do Maths as a double subject and complete both AS and A2 in 1st year, then Further Maths AS and A2 in the second.
He would also do General Studies; at this college they only offer Critical Thinking to straight A students.
He now knows the grades that he needs to achieve to get into the college and the grades needed to study the subjects he wants - so its up to him now!
* ELDEST CHILD IS LOCKED AWAY IN HIS ROOM FOR THE NEXT 4 MONTHS, ONLY COMING OUT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND EAT - fortunately his room is ensuite, taking care of any personal hygiene!!*0 -
dora37 wrote:Just an update as we have been to his interview.
If he decides to go to this college he has decided to go for Maths,Chemistry,Spanish & Further Maths (must get an A in GCSE Maths) with Computing as a back up should he not get an A in Maths.
He would do Maths as a double subject and complete both AS and A2 in 1st year, then Further Maths AS and A2 in the second.
He would also do General Studies; at this college they only offer Critical Thinking to straight A students.
He has the grades he needs to achieve to get into the college and the grades needed to study the subjects he wants - so now he knows what he needs to do now.
* ELDEST CHILD IS LOCKED AWAY IN HIS ROOM FOR THE NEXT 4 MONTHS, ONLY COMING OUT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND EAT - fortunately his room is ensuite, taking care of any personal hygiene!!*
Good news!
General studies will do him no harm anyway. Critical thinking is tricky and I know future Oxford students find it hard, but Straight As only-- not so sure about that one.
Locking him away seems harsh maybe give him a break once in a while:beer:0 -
studentphil wrote:Whilst that is true, good A levels and then onto a respected degree will do you no harm at all. Most people can only afford one shot at those two things so a good start in them is very useful
My point is that if he doesn't study what he enjoys, then he won't do well in them.
What would be the point of forcing somebody to do a subject in that they are not really interested in - they wouldn't enjoy it and wouldn't probably do that well in it?0 -
dora37 wrote:My point is that if he doesn't study what he enjoys, then he won't do well in them.
What would be the point of forcing somebody to do a subject in that they are not really interested in - they wouldn't enjoy it and wouldn't probably do that well in it?
That is very true! You have to enjoy it, but sometimes it is hard to pick just 3/4 things you enjoy!:beer:0 -
studentphil wrote:Good news!
Critical thinking is tricky and I know future Oxford students find it hard, but Straight As only-- not so sure about that one.
Locking him away seems harsh maybe give him a break once in a while
That is the criteria for Critical Thinking at this particular college.
I may let him out on his 16th birthday......for an hour;)0 -
On the further Maths, it is best not to think of it as one your 3 main A levels as even really clever people only get D's and E's at it. It is best treated as an extra.:beer:0
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studentphil wrote:On the further Maths, it is best not to think of it as one your 3 main A levels as even really clever people only get D's and E's at it. It is best treated as an extra.
Both the colleges DS is considering have a 100% pass rate of A - C at Further Maths.0 -
dora37 wrote:Both the colleges DS is considering have a 100% pass rate of A - C at Further Maths.
From my experience some very able people have slipped up on it. But it would seem you must have very outstanding soxth form provision in your area fo those kinds of stats.:beer:0 -
Advice given to us when my son was choosing A Levels was 'if you think this is hard, just wait until you have to choose a university course when there are over 20,000 to choose from!'Doing voluntary work overseas for as long as it takes .......
My DD might make the odd post for me0 -
looby-loo wrote:Advice given to us when my son was choosing A Levels was 'if you think this is hard, just wait until you have to choose a university course when there are over 20,000 to choose from!'
That really is the great shame of UK education that you have to pick your special subjects for life at 16 and most certainly by 18. So if you are interested in science and history and computing-- you can not follow them all at HE level. Which is a shame as there are so many interesting things to kow in both the arts and the sciences,:beer:0
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